My dear Sir

I am not a little ashamed of myself for all the trouble I have given you: I write now to confess my sins, & say that in despair I have given up the siphon-plan: and intend only to make an ordinary tank, of no very great diameter with pump.—¹ I called at Burgess & Keys & found that the coated Hose was flat & of course w^d. not do for suction: & that the gutta Percha w^d not stand frequent moving. Hence there was nothing left but the Leather & this would have cost me nearly ^£20,—a sum which I grudged, especially as it, the Leather Hose, it seems, requires care &c.— The only apology I can make for all the trouble I have given, is, that I was bonâ fide in strong earnest, when I wrote to you, on the scheme.

With thanks, pray believe me, my dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | Charles Darwin